Wednesday, August 10, 2011

5:12 PM

Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, says he's drafting a constitutional amendment that would require future recall petitions to include a reason for recall related to the elected representative's official responsibilities.

Vos told WisPolitics this afternoon he's looking to pattern the amendment after other states that list specific reasons for recall, potentially including convictions for felonies or misdemeanors and ethics violations.

He said the Dem senators who left the state to prevent a quorum could be considered within the scope of the amendment since they were determined to be in contempt of the Senate, but that he's more concerned with working with Dems to ensure that a single vote wouldn't be enough to trigger a recall in the future.

"This is not about the recalls that have already happened," Vos said.

Vos said that requirement is currently in place for recalls at the local government level, and that the amendment would simply make the standard uniform for state officials as well. He said he intends to make it the first bipartisan legislation passed during the fall floor session.

Constitutional amendments must pass both chambers of the Legislature in consecutive sessions and a statewide referendum to become law.